1978 - 1980 LT Truck VIN System

Location: On Left door lock pillar

First Digit: Series

A = 4 Wheel Drive (Trail Duster / RamCharger)
B = 2 Wheel Drive / Compact Van
C = 2 Wheel Drive / Commercial Van (CB300)
D = 2 Wheel Drive / Conventional Cab
E = 2 Wheel Drive / (Trail Duster / RamCharger)
P = 2 Wheel Drive / Forward Control
W = 4 Wheel Drive / Conventional Cab
X = 4 Wheel Drive / Military Power Wagon

1 = 100 Series 1/2 Ton
2 = 200 Series 3/4 Ton
3 = 300 Series 1 Ton

A = 100 Series Exc: Conv Cab
B = 200 Series Exc: Conv Cab
C = 300 Series Exc: Conv Cab

Third Digit: Body Type

0 = FWD Control and Motor Home Chassis, CB300, Sport Utility
1 = Conv Cab & Chassis, Compact Van (Tradesman)
2 = Crew Cab & Chassis, Low Line Van (Sportsman / Voyager)
3 = Conv Cab W/ Utiline, Mide Line Wagon (Custom Sportsman)
4 = Conv Cab W/ Sweptline, Hi Line Wagon (Royal Sportsman)
5 = Crew Cab W/ Utiline, Ext Body MaxiVan (Tradesman)
6 = Crew Cab W/ Sweptline, Ext Body MaxiWgn (Sportsman)
7 = Club Cab W/ Sweptline
8 = Club Cab & Chassis
9 = Club Cab W/ Utiline

Forth Digit: GVW Index

A = 6,000# or less
B = 6,001# to 10,000#
C = 10,001# to 14,000#
D = 14,001# to 16,000#
E = 16,001# to 19,500#
F = 19,501# to 26,000#
G = 26,001# to 33,000#
H = 33,001# and up
J = 6,001# to 8,500# (1979 - 1980)
K = 8501# to 10,000# (1979 - 1980)

Fifth Digit: Engine Type

A = 440-3 4V V8*
B = 225-1 2V 6 Cyl
C = 225-2 1V 6 Cyl
D = 440-1 4V V8
E = 318-1 2V V8
F = 360-1 2V V8
G = 318-3 2V V8*
H = 243 Mitsubishi Diesel
J = 400-1 2V V8
K = 360-3 2V V8*
N = 225-1 1V 6 Cyl
P = 318-1 4V V8*
R = 413-3 4V V8*
S = 360HP 4V V8**
T = 360-1 4V V8
X = SPCL 6 Cyl Gas
Y = SPCL V8 Gas
9 = 6-354 Perkins

* = HD Truck
** = Lil Red Express

Sixth Digit: Model Year

8 = 1978 8 Series
9 = 1979 9 Series
A = 1980 A Series

Seventh Digit: Assembly Plant

C = Jefferson Assy Plant
J = Tecumseh Road Truck (Canada)
K = Pillette Road Truck
L = Lago Alberto Assy Plant (Mexico)
M = Toluca Assy Plant (Mexico)
N = Burt Road, MI
S = Warren Truck #1
T = Warren Truck #2 (Sherwood)
V = Warren Compact #3
X = Missouri Truck

Last 6 Digits: Assembly Plant Sequence numbers, begins with:

-100001 at Warren Truck #1, Missouri Trk and Pillette Trk
-500001 at Warren Truck #2, and Tecumseh Truck Plant
-700001 at Warren Truck #3 Plant

Thanks. This helps a ton...or in my case...3/4 ton!

how do i tell if it's a ram or D series

what year is your truck ?

Wasn't it around '81 or '82 when the pickups started to be called Rams?

is there color code(number) for -79 Líl Red Truck other than Medium Canyon Red?

the Li'l Red Truck Pkg. (YH6)

these are the STANDARD codes for a '79 Lil Red (in other words, standard equipment that should have been on ever real 79 Lil Red)


MD2 Chrome bumper
MD3 Chrome bumper
PY3450 Medium Canyon Red
YW4 6050 pounds
EH1 High Performance
FA0 A-727 Loadflight
LB2 Electric Analog
AV2 3.55:1
LF6 Four Spoke
GH3 D150 model pickup, 115" wheelbase W/ Utiline body style
ME0 Delete Mouldings
ST1 Power Steering
LM2 AM/FM/MX Stereo Radio
YF1 Convenience Package
LB2 Oil Pressure Gauge
GH3 Rectangular, 1979
YH6 Lil Red Truck Pkg
SF1 Heavy duty front springs

Great site, lots of info. Keep up the great work RAM MAN.

Good stuff there. I was hoping to find something on the rear end options for a 79 D100. I have heard they had a couple of different set ups.

I'll see what I can find out

and thanks

The truck I just bought vin starts as
D14ANA But its got 4x4 and a 360

Hello all I have a 1989 ram charger off road buggy I built the stock axles up to all new 4:89 gears never been on the road well now I am taking them out and putting in a set of axles from a 1978 D 200 I have the vin # and I am trying to find out what axles they are dana or what any ideas.thank you for your time

Are the Codes Also Correct for 1977 Trucks? I can't find a decoder for them anyplace.

Originally Posted by W_A_Watson_II

Are the Codes Also Correct for 1977 Trucks? I can't find a decoder for them anyplace.

77 is here

http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45059

thank you very much for your help,I pulled the axles out to day and the front is a 44 heavy duty and the rear is a dodge I was hoping for dana 60's front and rear but for a 100.00 there heavy duty just hope I can find low gears for them 7:17 make it crawl

This information will greatly assist me in my search for the illusive diesel powered 78.

Found out some cool stuff about my truck with this, thanks!

heh, just realized that I posted this in the wrong thread, cause I have a '75. Just to let you guys know I was trying to get the 5 post minimum or however many you need to post pics when I first joined... Just so you guys don't think I'm a bigger retard than I actually am.

Great info!!

So I recently picked up a nicely restored 1979 dodge adventurer 150 and I checked out the vin and it says the engine is a 318.. however I know for a fact its a 360. Where would I find the vin for the engine? would it be in the same context as the vehicles vin or something totally different? if so do you have something like this thread for engines?

Thanks a lot man,
slowly starting to know this vehicle.

ps. bought it off the widow of the rebuilder... know idea whats in this beauty.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...h/P3220151.jpg